We will be planning several hikes, meals, surfs, etc to spend time with friends and family who are here before the wedding. Feel free to join, or to try some of these activities yourself!
Outdoor Activities
HIKING
Close by Santa Cruz (15- 20 min away)
For hikes further south, check out our 'Day Trips' Big Sur section
OCEAN STUFF
Paddle boarding (we have a SUP to lend + many rentals in SC)
Lots of otters, seals, and the occasional whale to spot frequently!
Surfing (we can lend/find foamies for those who want to play/learn):
Beginner Spots: Cowells, Jack's, 38th st, Capitola
Kite Surfing:
Waddell
Body and boogy surfing as well!
BIKING
City Bikes: There are lots of e-bike stands all around the town. Easy to download the app and get a bike. Let us know if you need a helmet :)
Mountain Biking: We are no mountain bikers, but Santa Cruz is mountain biking heaven. You can rent a bike and go on easier trails (Wilder) to more technical (Delaveaga)
Bike Trails: There is a bike path that goes through the Westside of Santa Cruz, and you can bike all the way up towards Wilder (up North on Highway 1). Just careful of cars if you go any further north than that, there's not a lot of room for bikes once you're off the path
North Coast Rail Trail: The North Coast Rail Trail might be ready by early 2026 connecting Santa Cruz to Davenport. Stay tuned!
FARMERS MAREKTS
Wednesday: downtown (the best!)
Saturday: next to our house, live music
Restaurants
You may know that we are quite the food snobs. And Santa Cruz is not a great eating spot. However, after over a year of trying a new restaurant almost every week for our Wednesday "relationship checkin", we have our list:
$$$
Vim: great food, amazing service. Since Hanloh closed, we'd say this is now the best restaurant in Santa Cruz (Westside)
Trestles: if you're on the Eastside of Santa Cruz, this is your top spot (Eastside)
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Hulas: Rachel's favorite. Hawaiian bowls/plates (Rachel loves the Jungle Curry tofu bowl)
Akira: Sushi :)
Namaste: Indian
@Thai: Thai
Midway: California food, very good (the more expensive of the $$)
$
Pretty Good Advice (cheap vegan/vegetarian downtown)
Taqueria Los Pericos
Longer Day Trips
BIG SUR (2 hours drive)
Worth it for the drive alone, you'll drive down Highway 1 with cliffs right over the ocean. There is amazing hiking (of all ranges), beautiful beaches (e.g. Sand Dollar Beach), good eating (Nepenthe is a classic, our favorite is COAST), and good book-shopping (don't miss the Henry Miller Library!).
MONTEREY/CARMEL (1 hour drive)
Monterey Bay Aquarium: a truly incredible aquarium, you can spend many hours here seeing all of the ocean life. One of the best aquariums we have seen!
Refuge Spa: $67 for all-day admission to outdoor hot/cold pools, saunas, steam rooms, and more. Bring a book (no electronics allowed) and relax!
Point Lobos: An absolutely beautiful state natural reserve, this magical place is full of sea lions and cliffs and ocean
SAN FRANCISCO/BERKELEY/OAKLAND (1.5 hour drive)
We suggest driving up the 1 to get there, it adds 10 minutes and is very beautiful! There will be pockets of fog, but hopefully you get good pockets of sun as well